Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am interested in getting my first snake in about 6 to 8 months and was wondering if a Ball is a good starter snake? I understand that they can be hard to feed and that isn't to appealing but I have been around them before and I really like that they are calm and docile. I have been told that boas are good starters but I really don’t like the idea of that big of a snake to start with. I also was wondering about the Morphs... Can there be a personality difference compared to the “normal” balls?

The only specimens that ever really fast are the wild caught ones. Some captive bred snakes will fast some, but nowhere close to as long as a wild caught would. Other than that, if you like them they are very good beginner snakes provided that you give them the proper housing and heat.
-----
Current Collection:
0.1 Antherystic elaphe guttata guttata - Corn Snake
1.0 Elaphe vulpina gloydi - Eastern Fox Snake
0.1 Leucistic elaphe obsoleta linheimeri - Texas Ratsnake
1.1 Morelia spilota cheyni - Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Tiliqua scincoides intermedia - Northern Blue Tongue Skink

Ball pythons are calm and easy going. They stay small for a heavy bodied snake. They average 4 to 5 ft. Just make sure you buy a captive hatched baby. You will pay more but its worth it. IMPORTS CAN BE HARD TO FEED. With buying ball pythons its probably a good idea to watch it feed before you buy.
Good luck with your purchase.
Chuck

>>Ball pythons are calm and easy going. They stay small for a heavy bodied snake. They average 4 to 5 ft. Just make sure you buy a captive hatched baby. You will pay more but its worth it. IMPORTS CAN BE HARD TO FEED. With buying ball pythons its probably a good idea to watch it feed before you buy.
>>Good luck with your purchase.
>>Chuck

I plan on looking for some breeders in my area. I have read in multiple areas that captive breed is the only way to go and that’s what I plan on doing. The extra cost doesn’t really bother me b/c I still go by the “you get what you pay for”. Does anyone have an opinion on the different morphs? I do like some of the coloring but I can’t believe how much they cost. Is it really worth the money?
Abby

I was going 2 give you a link but the site is down at the moment but will post it later.

I think buy a Normal first and buy a diffrent morph after you have got Exp with them.(No point buying a morph thats a lot of money for your first snake) I bough a Normal and now im going to buy a pair of 100% poss het albinos.

Check out the January 2005 issue of Reptiles magazine. So many ball python morphs. And many of them going for tens of thousands of dollars. I guess you need to decide what you want from your snake. Is it going to be a pet or are you looking to invest in a breeder.
Chuck

As of right now I would like it to be a pet. In the future I may consider getting into breeding but I would need more space in my home for that. I think I will probably get the normal female to start with and go from there. As of right now I am the only person in my household who isn’t scared of snakes so I think breeding would be a few years off when I can have my own room just for the snakes. I would eventually like to have more than just one but that’s all in due time.
-Abby

Try a rosy boa or sand boa instead. Although Balls are easier to keep they are not the easiest and as far as a newby is concerned the easier the better. Also look into blood pythons, Just kidding.
-----
2.4 Malaysian Blood Python
1.2 Borneo Black Blood Pythons
1.2 Sumatran Blood Pythons
2.4 Pastel Red Tail Boas
2.4 Ball Python
1.0 Albino Retic
0.1 Tiger Retic
0.1 Albino Burmese Python
1.2 Calibar Python
1.0 Macklotts Python
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.2 Kenyan Sand Boa
0.0.1 Brown Water Snake
0.0.1 Florida Banded X Northern Water Snake
0.0.1 Costa Rican Parrot Snake
0.0.1 Desert Night Snake
0.0.1 Oreintal Whip Snake
0.0.1 Mangrove Snake
0.0.1 Western Shovel Nose snake
0.1 Ornate Flying Snake
0.0.1 Mandoda King Snake
0.0.1 Mohave Side Winder
0.1 Neon Cape Gopher
1.0 Thia Beauty Snake
0.0.1 White Oak Grey Rat Snake